Yarn guide



June 17, 1947. E, FEUSTEL 2,422,535

YARN-GUIDE Filed April 18, 1946 r IN V EN TOR.

Patented June 17, 1947 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE YARN GUIDE Ernest A. Fenstel, Hasbrouck Heights, N. J., assignor to Ernest A. Feustel, 1110., East Rutherford, N. 5., a corporation of New Jersey Application April 18, 1946, Serial No. 663,166

7 Claims. 1

The present invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in thread or yarn carriers for guiding thread or yarn to needles, spools, cones and like machine parts. My invention relates more particularly to thread or yarn carrier tubes for full-fashioned hosiery knitting machines, wherein relatively fine and delicate threads or filaments must be paid out at relatively high linear speeds, and wherein the yarn carriers must work in small spaces with relatively small clearances.

The present application is a continuation-inpart of my copending application Serial No. 527,089, filed March 18, 1944.

One of the objects of my invention is to provide a thread or yarn carrier particularly adapted for use with full-fashioned knitting machines, which will be more efficient and easier to maintain and more dependable in operation. Another object of the present invention is to provide a yarn carrier having a more efficient replaceable yam-guiding tube at the base thereof, and which will permit a quick replacement of the threadguide tube while the thread or yarn carrier remains in place upon the knitting machine or the like;..that is, the thread-guide tube may be removed from the yarn or thread carrier, when the tube is worn or cut by the thread or yarn without detaching the carrier from its anchorage. Another object of my invention is to provide an elongated thread-guide tube which is at least in part non-circular in cross-sectional configuration to prevent axial rotation during use.

My present invention further consists of certain novel constructions in the tube-gripping place of the carrier and of certain novel relationships between the tube-gripping plate, the yarn-guide tube secured thereby, andthe base plate supporting the thread-guiding finger, whereby the tube may be readily inserted and withdrawn from between said tube-gripping plate and the base or supporting plate and may be firmly held by said plates with the inner end of thetube in such a position that the thread or yarn coming out of -.the yarn guide tube is suspended out of contact with the base or supporting plate and the yarn-guide finger until the yarn or thread passes over the bend in the yarnguide finger.

Other objects of this invention and other novel features and details of construction will appear more fully from the following detailed description, appended claims, and accompanying drawmgs.

', For the purpose of illustrating the invention,

there are shown in the accompanying drawing forms thereof which are at present preferred, although it is to be understood that the various instrumentalities of which the invention consists can be variously arranged and organized and that the invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and organizations of the instrumentalities as herein shown and described.

In the accompanying drawing, in which like reference characters indicate like parts throughout:

Figure 1 represents a view in longitudinal cross-section of a portion of the yarn carrier generally on line l-l of Figure 2.

Figure 2 represents a top or plan view of a portion of the yarn carrier on a somewhat reduced scale.

Figure 3 represents a perspective view of the yarn carrier.

Figure 4 represents a View in transverse, vertical CIOSS-rSfiCtlOl'l generally on line 4-4 of Figure '7.

Figure 5 represents a top or plan view of a portion of the yarn carrier.

Figure 6 represents a view in Vertical, transverse cross-section generally on lines 66 of Figures 2 and 7. I

Figure '7 represents a view in longitudinal, vertical cross-section generally on line 'l-'l of Figure 3.

Figure 8 represents a fragmentary perspective view of the under-side of that portion of the yarn-carrier adjacent the pay out end thereof.

Figure 9 represents a plan view of a modified form of apron which may be used in place of the apron shown in Figures 2 and '7.

Figure 10 represents a cross-sectional view' generally similar to that of Figure 4 but showing the embodiment of Figure 9.

In Figures 1 to 8, I have shown one embodiment of the present invention comprising a yarncarrier adapted for use on a full-fashioned hosiery knitting machine.

This embodiment may be mounted upon a conventional supporting bar [0 having a plurality of screw-threaded openings I I therein, by means of bolts 23 which pass through slightly oversize holes l3 formed in the base-plate 12 of the yarncarrier.

A generally central transverse bend or foldzone I4 is formed in said base plate [2 thereby to provide front and rear angularly-related plane portions on said base plate. V I

A generally central opening I5 is formed in said base plate [-2 at the bend or fold-zone I4.

A generally central groove i6 is formed upon the upper face of the front plane portion of said base plate 12; the groove It being generally curved in cross-sectional configuration and extending generally longitudinally of said front plane portion from the openin l to the front edge of the base plate.

A pair of longitudinally-extending slots I! are formed at the front edge of said front plane portion, on either side of the groove 86;

An integrally formed yarn-guide tube i8 is adapted to be removably mounted upon the base plate l2 in the manner to be hereinafter described. As shown particularly in Figures 1, 3 and 8, the yarn-guide tube I8 is provided with an axially-curved rear portion lB-a and a straight front portion 2 I. 7

The upper concave edge of the curved portion IB-a may be open as shown at 26 and the portion l3a may be provided with a reinforced flaring annular tip or ring portion [9 at its rearmost end. 7

The straight portion 2! of the tube l3 may have oval or other non-circular cross-sectional configuration as shown particularly in Figure l.

A tube-gripping plate 22 has a longitudinallyextending upwardly-pressed ridge 2t formed thereon and adapted to fit over the straight portion 2! of the tube I8 and to maintain said tube in position upon the rear plane portion of the base plate 32; the plate 22 being provided with openings, which are in alignment with the openings 13 in the base plate [2 whereby the bolts 23 which hold the base plate I2 to the bar III also maintain the plate 22 in tube-gripping relationship to said base plate 2.

The under surface of the ridge 24 is preferably formed With the same configuration as the portion 2i of the tube I8 thereby to hold said portion 21 rigidly and so that it cannot rotate axially during use.

A yarn-guide finger 25 has adjacent its rear end, a pair of openings 26 underlying the slots I! in the base plate l2 and adapted to receive the screw-threaded portions of a pair of screws 27 each of which passes through a washer 28 and a slot l! in the base plate i2 so as to secure 4 The thread or yarn T enters the yarn carrier by passing through the reinforced ring IQ of the yarn-guide tube I8. The thread passes through the tube 18 in a generally straight line extending from the ring It to the front or pay-out end 2 la of said tube, and substantially without contacting any intervening portion of the curved part l8-a or the straight part 2| of said tube. As can be seen most clearly in Figure 1, the thread rides substantially within the open top of the curved portion i8--a and thereby is kept from contacting the sides of the curved portion. The relationship of the reinforced ring is and the straight portion 2| of the tube I8 are such that the thread also passes through the straight portion 2| without substantial contact therewith except at the pay-out or front tip 2 |-a the yarn-guide finger 25 onto the base plate i2.

The slots I? have sufficient length to permit the yarn-guide finger 25 to be adjusted longitudinally relative to the base plate I2. H

Figures 3, 5, and '7 show, on yarn-guide finger 25, a thread retainer, of generally U-shape, having straight arms 29, which lie closely adjacent the upper surface of the yarn-guide finger 25, and having an up-turned, U shaped end 39. The thread T passes through loop formed by the upturned end 30, and as shown in Figure 5, the thread T can be friotionally retained underneath one of the arms 29 for convenience during the yarn-threading operation.

The yarn-guide finger 25 'has, in itsupper surface, a groove or notch 3! which is narrow at its rear end adjacent thread retainer 29 and to but which widens at its front end. The yarn guide finger 25 has adjacent its pay-out end, a bend 3 2 in it beyond which is mounted a yarn-guide pay-out tube 33 which is removably mounted on the finger 25 by means of opposed gripping jaws 34. On the inner. or concave side of bend 32 yarn-guide finger .25 has an insert 35in the form r thereof' In this way, wear on the tube is is reduced to a minimum and, accordingly, the tube may be used for much longer periods of operation than conventional thread-guiding eyelets or other means previously employed on the base of yarncarriers. 7

The thread passes from the end :2 i-a of the tube i8, through the loop'30 and over the upper surface of the curved insert portion 35 and through the pay-out tube 33 from which it passes to the needles (not shown) of the knitting machine or the like. The curved upper surfaces of the insert 35 also minimize wear and reduces the angle at which the thread enters the pay-out tube 33. In this way, there is less wear on the tube 33 and, accordingly, replacement of the tube 33 (which, as is well known-in the art, can be effected by spreading the opposed-jaws 34 apart with any appropriate spreading tool, removing the worn tube 33, inserting a new' tube and releasing the jaws 34 to permit them to -spring back into tube-gripping;relationship) is required less frequently. 7 7

That is, in order to secure most effective tubegripping action of the jaws 34, it is desirable to make them relatively long (that is, to extend a substantial distance forward from the main portion of theyarn-carrier as definedgenerally by the front edge of the slot3l). As a result, the thread T would extend at a relatively sharp angle from the'front edge of the groove 3f to the rear edge of the tube 33 and would cause considerable wear at both these edges if it were not for} the curved intervening support provided by the upper surface or face of the insert 35 which is fastened tothe yarn-carrier by apair of laterally related-pins 35-a which are disposed somewhat inward of the front edge of the groove'3 l.

The ring 19 and the insert '35 present gradual ly-grooved bearing surfaces to the thread and thereby minimize skiving or shaving or other abrasive or disruptive tendencies both when the tube l8 and the insert 35' are'new, as well as after they have undergone substantial use. i

As set forth above, the non-circular cross-sectional configuration of the portion 2-! of the tube !8 prevents axial rotation thereof and maintains the curved portion 18-11 of said tube in theproper downwardly-curved position shown in Figure 1 thereby minimizing wear of the tube.

However, after considerable use, th'e 'tubegls may wear to a point at which it becomes unserv iceable. If and when this occurs, the tube 18 can be readily replaced sirnply by loosening ("but' notl removing) the bolts 23 so as to loosen the'plate 22 and to permit the tube l8 to bewithdrawn rearwardly and to be replacedby anew tube'correspondingly positioned, after which the bolts 23 are again tightened so as non-rotationally to lock the new tube Hi to the base of the yarn-carrier.

In Figures 9 and 10, I have shown a modified form of apron or base plate 40 which may be used in place of the apron or base plate |2 described hereinabove. The base plate 40 generally resembles the base plate l2 except that, in place of the groove |B, there is provided a central slot 4| within which the front portion 2| of the yarn-guide tube 8 extends as indicated in Figure 10; the portion 2| being non-rotatably held within said slot 4| by the ridge 24 of the tube-gripping plate 22.

The front end of the slot 4| extends somewhat beyond central transverse bend-zone 42 of said base plate 40 so that the thread emerging from the front end of the portion 2| clears the base plate 40 in a manner similar to that indicated in Figures 3 and '7.

As indicated particularly in Figure 10, the underside of the portion 2| is supported, in this embodiment, by the supporting bar l0.

The present invention may be embodied, in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential attributes thereof, and it is therefore desired that the present embodiments be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, reference being had to the appended claims rather than to the foregoing description to indicate the scope of the invention.

What I hereby claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A yarn-carrier including a base, a replaceable yarn-guide tube having an axially-curved portion and adapted to be mounted at said base, a tube-retaining plate, and bolts securing said plate to said base so as clampingly to hold a portion of said tube for quick attachment and detachment between said plate and said base.

2. A yarn-carrier including a supporting bar, a yarn-carrier-base plate, a replaceable yarn-guide tube adapted to be mounted at said base plate, a tube-retaining plate, and bolts securing said tube-retaining plate and said base plate to said bar so that a portion of said tube is located between said tube retaining plate and said base plate and removably secured between them.

3. A yarn-carrier, including a base having a perforation through it, a detachable yarn-guide tube adapted to be mounted at said base and having its pay-off end at said perforation, a tuberetaining plate, and bolts securing said plate to said base so that a portion of said plate engages a portion of said tube and secures said tube, for attachment and detachment between said plate and said base.

4. For use in a knitting machine or the like, a supporting bar, a yarn-carrier having a base, a yarn-guide tube adapted to be mounted to said base, a plate adapted to overlie said tube, and a, plurality of bolts adapted to pass through said plate and said base and screw-threadedly to engage with said supporting bar, thereby clampingly to retain said tube intermediate said plate and said base and rigidly to fasten said base to said supporting bar, said bolts being adapted to be 1005- ened was to permit quick removal and replacement of said tube without detaching said base from said supporting bar.

5. For use in a knitting machine or the like, a supporting bar, a yarn-carrier having a base, a yarn-guide tube adapted to be mounted to said base, a plate adapted to overlie said tube, and a plurality of bolts adapted to pas through said plate and said base and screw-threadedly to engage with said supporting bar, thereby clampingly to retain said tube intermediate said plate and said base and rigidly to fasten said base to said supporting bar, said bolts being adapted to be loosened so as to permit quick removal and replacement of said tube without detaching said base from said supporting bar, that portion of said tube intermediate said plate and said base being non circular in cross-sectional configuration thereby to prevent rotation of aid tube when in use.

6. A yarn-carrier comprising a main elongated portion, a pair of opposed gripping jaws integrally formed at the front end of said main portion, said jaws being bent downwardly intermediate their ends whereby the outermost gripping portions of said jaws are formed at an angle to the inner ends of said jaws,said jaws having an opening therebetween generally in the zone of the bend, a pay-out-guide tube releasably held intermediate the outermost ends of said jaws, and a curved plate disposed underneath the opening intermediate said jaws, said curved plate serving to guide the thread passing along the upper side of main portion of said carrier and through said pay-out tube, thereby reducing the angle at which said thread enters said pay-out tube, so as to minimize wear to said tube.

7. A yarn-carrier including a base, and replaceable yarn-guide tube having an axially-curved portion and adapted to be mounted at the rear end of said base, a tube-retaining plate, and bolts securing said plate to said base so as to clampingly hold a portion of said tube for quick attachment and detachment relative to said base.

ERNEST A. FEUSTEL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

